The highways leading into Detroit city are now peppered with distinctive burgundy, black, and gold billboards advertising big name acts to be appearing at “Caesars” Casino.  I was horrified and excited all at the same time that the Detroit-Windsor area was getting another casino to add to its collection of four.  Across the river one can see the Caesars name across two of the tallest buildings in Windsor – one being formerly labeled Casino Windsor.  Casino Windsor is being re-branded and expanded as Caesars Windsor.  Our collection remains stagnant at four.  I am pleased that this new venue will host shows to draw a crowd more diverse to the area.  I hope Cirque du Soleil makes a stop at some point. 

0

After being a volunteer author on Detroit Metblogs for over two and a half years, I have decided it is time for me to move on to something new. As such, this will be my last post on the site. Before I go, I want to say thank you to the readers of the site, and to the crew at Metroblogging HQ for sharing their wisdom relating to blogging and life in general. A very special thanks goes out to the volunteer authors and captains that have come and gone since the site first launched; I enjoyed working with all of you and wish you nothing but success and happiness in the future!

It has been a fun and illuminating experience, metro Detroit. In the words of Fall Out Boy (or Bob Hope, if you’re Old School): Thanks for the memories.

0

Griswold and Grand River has been adorned with orange, coffee, and techno courtesy of the Urban Bean Company (UBC).  The two story space is retro comforting with its brown on brown carpet and stylish with its loft set up, copper bar, and orange and glass exterior framing and showcasing its offerings.  Last night a techno DJ was spinning, which was perfect as I had walked into purchase Movement (Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival) tickets.  The Urban Bean Company is the only outlet in the city selling tickets; weekend passes are for sale: $40, cash only.  Advanced tickets online are $45.20 once you pay out the mandatory processing fee.  I would suggest supporting Detroit Techno and Detroit Coffee by heading to the Urban Bean Company dropping $40 on the ticket and $5.20 saved on coffee.    

0

I have been sharing my pleasure with the Weight Watchers program on this blog from time to time, especially since HAP covers this program as part of its heath insurance package.  I am happy to report that there is now a branch at the Harbortown plaza.  I have now reached my weight goal and am very scared I am going to put all the weight back on.  So, I decided to do something good for my mental and philanthropic state.  I got rid of all my big clothes as well as all the ridiculously small ones that I thought I would “fit into one day”.  The Salvation Army Store at Fort Street and 6^th Street is a favourite haunt of mine.  I love VHS, buying old CDs I couldn’t afford in my youth, and finding tattered old books.  Sunday the store is closed, but it accepts donations.  Just pull up to the loading dock off Fort Street, ring the bell, and hand your stuff up to the attendant.  I was so excited to make some space in my closet that I didn’t ask about getting a receipt.  The website has all the tax deduction info.  

0

I wonder why Bravo! Bravo! chose the French route instead of the Italian: Brava! Brava!  Either way, Bravo! Bravo! is certainly worthy of its congratulatory title.  The fundraiser for the Michigan Opera Theatre is being held this Friday at the Detroit Opera House.  Tickets are $65 in advance and $85 at the door.  High priced VIP tables may also be reserved.  I went with the $65 ticket.  The price is well worth its weight even if philanthropy is at the bottom of your list.  Last year the opulence of the Opera House surrounded a couple thousand guests dining on the most delicious strolling supper catered by the finest restaurants in the city.  The DJs were skilled and scattered throughout the venue.  The people-watching alone is well worth the money.  I would suggest buying a ticket ahead of time because you don’t want to miss out on a minute of this evening.   

2

Last week I attended the third annual Made In Michigan Writers Series party at the Magic Stick bar/concert venue.  In years past the event has been held in more literary environs: the Scarab Club, the Detroit Historical Museum.  The Magic Stick was an interesting experiment.  This year three new books of creative non-fiction were recognized along with gems from years past.  The author event, held earlier in the evening of April, 22^nd was literary in nature, while the real treat followed when poetry and guitars got together to sparkle.  Readings from Conrad Hilberry were charming, romantic, biting, and endearingly naughty.  Janet Kaufman’s readings were appropriate on Earth Day with her eco-feminist style.  M.L. Liebler was lead singer for the opening band, read his own poetry, then recited to the musical accompaniment of the band High Strung.  I can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year.    

0

This week is national volunteer week, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan is celebrating with their annual Recognize Volunteers event, which culminates with a recognition ceremony and several awards for volunteers in different categories. Head over to UWSEM’s website to vote for your favorite volunteer in each category.

I work with quite a few volunteers and make sure to nominate each year for this event. It’s a really great celebration that honors those who provide much needed services around Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. This is the first time that voting has been open to the public.

0

I have not been blogging for some time as I had lost all inspiration.  What I had forgotten was that my city is my loyal muse that shelters and provides for me even though I lose sight of her power at times.  It took a bewitching walk down her haunted streets, in the wee hours of the morn, for me to find her magic again.  Walking in a city is allowed me to discover hidden architectural treasures I miss when I am encased in my car.  Appreciating nature amidst city structures is difficult to do without being physically connected to the pavement, brick, and grass, by something other than tires.  The wind blows differently around each building and in Detroit, it blows eerily through many of our buildings.  The Fort-Shelby hotel – which is being renovated to become a Doubletree Hotel – is frightfully delightful with backlit plastic floating in its naked windows.  Moral of the story: take full advantage of the city and walk.     

0

Interested in learning how to use social media sites to draw new customers to your business? Want to know what Internet tools are out there to help you target niche groups of consumers? Scheduled for next week, the local event, “Cultivating Detroit’s Creative Culture Through Social Media”, will answer those questions and more. Read more

0

Pewabic is holding their annual Spring sale this weekend, with discontinued, overrun and even broken (they’re still really cool!) pieces on sale at hugely discounted prices.

The sale, which actually began today for members, will be open to the public on Saturday from 10AM to 5PM and Sunday from 12Noon to 6PM. Pewabic is at 10125 E Jefferson, which could not be a more perfect location on our first weekend of truly gorgeous weather. Once you finish your shopping head on over to the water and start enjoying the spring!

0

Holy Hip-Hop and ReFusing Fashion, two excellent exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Arts-Detroit, will close this Sunday, so this weekend is your last chance to see them. Here’s Metroblogging’s review of the exhibition.

MOCAD is offering two final events to celebrate the exhibitions: Sarah Lewis, Art Historian at Yale, will talk about the Holy Hip-Hop paintings, and several experts will hold a discussion titled The Relevance of Fashion. In addition, the Black History 101 Mobile Museum will be parked outside (or maybe inside?) the museum on Sunday, April 20.

All this is free: the exhibitions, the discussions, the vagabonding black history museum. All free. The MOCAD is a great place for Detroit, doing great things. Feel free to donate a few dollars while you’re there and let’s keep enjoying and supporting this institution.

0

Designed to help small business owners and their employees succeed, Comerica Bank’s ‘Managing Your Business’ seminar series is once again on the horizon.

Details of the workshops, which cost $50 for Comerica customers and $75 for non-Comerica customers, are as follows: Read more

0

The Wonder That Is Zaccaro’s!

I drove on over to the new Zaccaro’s Market on Friday - only to be super embarrassed when I learned that the store, on Watson and Woodward, is less than two blocks from my office, but oh well.

It was so worth the drive. While I still think it’s wacky that the addition of a mere grocery store can drive the Detroit blogosphere into a frenzy, we latch on to what we can get in this fair city.

I ordered my sandwich (very good), strolled around the store (very cute) and checked out some of the merchandise (very nice). This still isn’t the kind of place where I’ll be able to do my weekly (ok, monthly) grocery extravaganza but it’s going to be the place where I run in on the way home and grab something for dinner.

Zaccaro’s has staples like pasta, sauces, dairy, fruit and veggies and then some of the kitschy items that you’d want to find in an upscale grocery store. A coffee bar, some bistro tables, and what looks like it will become a wine room in the rear of the store. And the best part? It’s all pretty reasonable. My fear was that it was going to be a commodity in the area and charge $4 for a box of noodles or something, but I was pleasantly surprised. Of course my favorite item was little single use packets of spices, which will cut down on my buying a bathtub of cumin when I really need a teaspoon, but that’s just me.

I’m definitley going to be a regular at this place. I think I’ll even walk next time.

Zaccaro’s Market, a gourmet grocer of the Whole Food/Trader Joe type, opens today at its Midtown location at Woodward and Watson. Providing fresh and locally grown organic foods, fine wines and liquors, and an excellent variety of pre-prepared, healthy foods, the market is a welcome addition and is sure to be at capacity level from open to close for some time.

Happy gourmandizing, Detroit!

Now that most of the copper has been scraped clean from the numerous abandoned buildings in Detroit, it seems that thieves have moved on to our parked cars.

I’ve spoken to several people who have had the catalytic converters stolen from under their parked cars overnight or in the early morning. My neighbor in the relatively quiet Woodbridge neighborhood had his catalytic converter stolen in the early morning. A turn of the key in the ignition resulted in a loud engine roar that could very well have awakened the rest of the block. Another neighbor reported that she saw a guy in a Crown Victoria get out of his car, get under my neighbor’s car for about 1 minute, and take off with a large metal object seconds later.

That’s all it took: a total of about two minutes to stop, saw, and go. Read more